Concerning Animals: Getting ready for Westminster

KYLE JOHANSENDonna Johansen's English mastiff Yeager, who was chosen to compete against his brother Guiness in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show next month.

"First and foremost, they're our pets," said Judi Siegal, surrounded by six smooth dachshund title-holders in her Livingston home.

As we spoke, her daughter, Joey Kenjorski, was visiting with her four dachshunds. This year just one of the cuties is slated to show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, precisely at 12:45 p.m. on Feb. 9 at Madison Square Garden in New York. That would be Furgie, a k a Ch Doxliebe Forget Me Not, who will make her final appearance in the arena before she turns 9 years old in April. (Dogs seldom compete past the age of eight.) But this little gal has already amassed a ton of prizes, including Best of Breed in 2002 and an Award of Merit in 2007, both at Westminster.

"She may be a little saggy baggy from having litters but she's solid as a rock," said Kenjorski, Furgie's owner. "We brought her out of retirement for one last title."

It's a narrow door into the nation's premier show. Only champs may enter, and not all make it to center stage. To qualify, dogs must have achieved championship status, which requires earning a minimum of 15 points from various venues. The top five in each breed are automatically accepted. Other entrants must submit by mail for a drawing to fill the remaining slots for the total canine count of 2,500. There are always more submissions than slots.

Mother and daughter skip shows that are far away. "We have them from the day they're born and we'll never fly them. It's not fair," said Siegel, whose dogs manage to win plenty of points at shows within driving distance.

Kenjorski's dog, Daisy, did more than win prizes: The little one became a matchmaker. The former Joey Siegal decided to try Match.com where she spotted Todd Kenjorski, pictured with his dachshund. "I knew I had to meet him," she said of the man she married last year, the first marriage for each. Now the Port Reading couple is expecting a baby.

The expectant mother will show Furgie at the Garden competition. But it's not just about winning prizes. "Mom and I have so much fun. Our mutual love of dachshunds has made our relationship stronger than ever," she said.

Massive mastiffs
When Westminster entries were drawn, to Donna Johansen's surprise, two of her 2-year-old English mastiffs, male siblings, were chosen. "An unbelievable luck of the draw," said the Manahawkin woman who has four massive mastiffs -- ranging from 160 pounds, for the 1-year old Nala, to 215 pounds for Guiness. "Both Yeager and Guiness are in and they'll be competing with each other, which is wild," she said.

Whether Yeager or Guiness wins any titles, Guiness just might make it into the Guinness World Records. On Jan. 11, he became the proud papa of 17 puppies -- you read right, 17 -- the smallest weighing 13 ounces. "Right now," said Johansen, with a laugh, "they look like a pack of rats." When they mature, though, they'll be "gentle giants" like their father.

Loving and living with mastiffs is a family affair. The Johansens stretch mattress limits when all four of her dogs climb aboard. She and her husband Thomas don't have a huge house, but she says that's no problem. "After five minute bursts of energy, the rest of the time they just lay around. You just step over them."

Their son Cole, 5, grew up with a mastiff named Holly. "They're the same age and since they grew up together, they've really bonded. Our son Kyle, 22, is co-owner with me of Guiness."

Donna Johansen will show Yeager while John Horn, a professional handler from Milford, will show Guiness. "I'm still deciding what to wear," she said. "You don't want to detract from your dog."